My Review of 9 Popular Pairs

My Overall Rating: 5/5
Pros: Price and comfort
Cons: Limited colors

Is there a brand that has more quickly entered the cultural zeitgeist than Quince has over the last few years?! I, personally, went from never hearing of this site to wanting to buy everything they make. From their viral $50 cashmere sweaters (yes, seriously) to travel essentials and even baby and kids clothes, Quince truly has everything. And, they sell it all at budget-friendly prices that repeatedly make me hit *add to cart*.

“At under $70, these flats are a no-brainer add to anyone’s closet and hit high marks for look, comfort, durability, cost, and the likelihood that I’d purchase them again.”

I was so excited to try the Quince Italian leather bow ballet flats for several reasons. First, I loved the shoe’s simple and elegant design, classic colorways, and oversized bow. They really rivaled the look of way more expensive flats at a fraction of the price. Secondly, I’ve heard Quince’s shoes are really comfortable. And I’m here to tell you these shoes did not disappoint in that regard. The leather exterior is so soft and the inside is even better.

These flats had the most cushy insole of any of the flats I tried on this list. This makes them insanely (and I don’t use that word lightly here) comfortable upon first wear. At under $70, these flats are a no-brainer add to anyone’s closet. They hit high marks for look, comfort, durability, cost, and the likelihood that I’d purchase them again. Overall, these were by far the best ballet flats of the nine I tried!

Quince

Material: Italian Leather

Available Colors: Cognac, Black & Almond

Sizes: Women’s 5 – 10

Price: $69.90

My Overall Rating: 5/5
Pros: Comfort, price, and lots of color options
Cons: Pricey (but worth it!)

If you’ve yet to try out of a pair of Madewell shoes, I’m here to tell you that you’re seriously missing out. As someone who immensely values the right-out-of-the-box comfort of a new pair of shoes (who has time to break-in shoes and get blisters?!), Madewell’s soft leather flats certainly hit this mark. I’ve owned a studded pair of the Greta ballet flats for a while now. They were so comfortable for all-day wear the first time I slipped my feet in them and have only gotten better over time.

“I’ve owned a studded pair of the Greta ballet flats for a while now and they were so comfortable for all-day wear the first time I slipped my feet in them and have only gotten better over time.”

This shoe comes in lots of colors and styles, making them such a versatile add to your wardrobe for every season. Besides the $20 Target flats that I own in two colors, this is the only other pair on this list that I’ve considered buying in multiple hues—they’re seriously that good. I also love the Greta’s stretchy Mary Jane-style strap. It not only adds visual interest to the shoe, but additionally keeps my foot nice and secure (no slipping out!) while I wear them.

Madewell

Material: Leather (Also available in mesh and woven styles)

Available Colors: True Black, Chocolate Raisin, Soft Mahogany, Pale Blush, Ruby Port &  Safari Khaki

Sizes: Women’s 5 – 12

Price: $148

My Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Pros: Super soft material, machine-washable, and sustainable
Cons: Price

Before taking on this writing assignment, I’d never tried a pair of the much-talked about Rothy’s so I was super excited to get my hands on a pair. If you’re familiar with the brand, I’m sure you’ve heard people rave about the super comfy material their shoes are made out of—and they’re right. These shoes are like nothing I’ve ever tried before because they feel like wearing socks or water shoes (remember those?). The brand’s signature thread is spun from recycled plastic bottles, making these knit flats incredibly sustainable and comfortable. How cool is that?!

“This double buckle Mary Jane-style was so cute on and the shoes come in several versatile-yet-neutral colors. I really can’t express how soft and cushy these flats were inside and out.”

This double buckle Mary Jane-style was so cute on and the shoes come in several versatile-yet-neutral colors. I really can’t express how soft and cushy these flats were inside and out. They even featured an extra silky-smooth lining in the heel interior, ensuring you won’t get blisters. And have I mentioned that these shoes are entirely machine washable?! My only real complaint of these shoes is the price. I really loved them, but their $165 price tag made me take pause. But when you factor in the brand’s sustainable materials and practices and the shoe’s long-lasting comfort and quality (especially since you can throw them in the washer), the higher price does seem justified.

Rothy’s

Material: Knit from Rothy’s signature thread, which is spun from plastic bottles

Available Colors: Ballerina, Black, Cabernet, Java Chip & Sky

Sizes: Women’s 5 – 13

Price: $165

My Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Pros: Comfort and modern style
Cons: Pricey (but worth it!)

When I first tried on these ballet flats during a workday at The Everymom’s Chicago office, my initial (and uncensored) reaction was blurting out, “These shoes are so weird.” At first, I didn’t really love the look of these flats on my feet. I thought they looked oddly like something one of Santa’s elves would wear. But what I couldn’t ignore is how insanely comfortable these ballet flats are. They truly feel like slipping your feet into plush leather socks. 

“Their comfort remained a 5/5 (no break-in time needed) and they felt really well made, which was important to me given their $148 price point.”

Admittedly, these shoes majorly grew on me as I continued to wear them. Their comfort remained a 5/5 (no break-in time needed). And they felt really well made, which was important to me given their $148 price point. Though I was at first unsure about the elongated style of the shoe’s soft, square toe, I later came to appreciate them. I love how contemporary and sophisticated they looked compared to the ballet flats I wore 10 years ago.

Perhaps the best part of testing out these ballet flats was that I received tons of compliments from my coworkers while wearing them. One of The Everymom team members even asked if I’d bought them in Europe. She said they were “so chic” and said she wanted to order a pair for herself, too. They received high markings for their modern style, unbeatable comfort (buttery soft leather + a cushioned insole = a dream), and mid-range cost. Truly, the only negative thing about them is that I now want a pair in every color! 

Everlane

Material: Leather with a Rubber Outsole

Available Colors: Black, Toasted Almond, Blush Tan & Canvas

Sizes: Women’s 5 – 11

Price: $148